Iowa Department of Human Rights

Division of Community Advocacy and Services (DCAS)

Commission on the Status of Iowans of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage

(CAPI)Established in 2004www.iowacapi.org

www.humanrights.iowa.gov

CAPI

Vision: All Asian and Pacific Islander Iowans live up to their potential, regardless of ethnicity, station in life, and religion

Mission: To ensure Iowa’s Asians and Pacific Islanders have opportunities equal to other Iowans in education, employment, health care, housing, and safety and to publicize the accomplishments and contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islanders to the state.

Who are APIs?

The “Asian” is defined as: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far

East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, and etc.

The “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” is defined as: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii,

Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census

Asian Americans in the U.S.

Demographics

U.S. IowaTotal Population (2009)*

307 Million 3.0 Million

Projection (by 2040)**

407 Million 3.5 Million

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (2009)*

16.6 Million (5.4%)

56,000 (1.9%)

Projection (by 2040)**

40.6 Million(10%)

115,000 (3.3%)

# of countries and ethnic groups represent

over 30(speak over 100

languages)

over 20

Source: * U.S. Census Bureau; ** Woods and Poole Economics, Inc

API Population Change in Iowa

Refugees to Iowa

• July 1975:  Governor Robert Ray created the Task Force for Indochinese Resettlement

• November 1975:  Taidam refugees• April 1979:  Vietnamese "boat people“ and Cambodian

refugees• June 1980:  Laotian• February 1987:  Czech, Hungarian, Polish and

Romanian• February 1993:  Bosnian• September 1993:  Burmese• June 1995:  Sudanese• August 1998 :  Liberian• May 1999:  Kosovar• June 2008:  Bhutanese

Immigrants and the EconomyContribution of Immigrant Workers to the Country’s 25 Largest Metropolitan Areas

The White House Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative

www.aapi.govThe Initiative works to improve the quality of

life and opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by facilitating increased access to and participation in federal programs where they remain underserved.

President Executive Order 2009-10-14

Overlook the challenges that certain AAPI communities are facing:•Language barriers – particularly new Americans and refugees•Lack of accurate data – lump all AAPI data into one category•Health disparities – higher rates of diabetes, cancer, and Hepatitis B•Educational disparities – high dropout rates, low college enrollment rates in some communities•Economic disparities – higher rates of poverty in some communities, and barriers to employment and workplace advancement in others

The myth of the "model minority"

• Town hall meetings • Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Exit Saigon, Enter Little

Saigon” • Refugee Adjustment of Status Clinics • Annual API Capitol Showcase and Awards• Storm Lake School District ELL Policy change• Interpreter Bill - Develop a mechanism to ensure the

qualifications of interpreters for Asian and Pacific Islander persons

• Youth programs: Refugee Family Apartment Set-up to welcome newly arrived refugees, Annual “Support Local Talent” Fundraiser event, E-Mentoring Program, Vagina Monologues – API Youth style, Youth Leadership Summit, Refugee Youth Empowerment Program, etc.

CAPI

CAPI

Swati Dandekar Marion, IA

• The first Indian-born, first Asian Pacific American to be elected State Representative (2002-2008), then Senator (2008-present)

• Born in Nagpur, India

Questions?